Yoga for HK Open University Students

The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) is a statutory university located in Ho Man Tin, Hong Kong. Established by the British Hong Kong Government in 1989, the OUHK consists of five schools, namely the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration, School of Education and Languages, School of Nursing and Health Studies, and the School of Science and Technology.

香港公開大學（OUHK）是一所政府認可大學，位於香港何文田。香港公開大學由英國香港政府於1989年成立，由五所學校組成，分別是藝術與社會科學學院，李兆基工商管理學院，教育與語言學院，護理與健康學院以及科學技術學院。

The Andiappan Yoga Community is pleased to partner with The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) in providing free yoga classes to OUHK students. With the increasing demand on student life, regular practice of yoga can improve the overall well-being and balance of the students.  It will enhance their ability to cope with the day-to-day stress of being a student.  According to a research paper published by the Hong Kong Medical Journal, more than 50% of respondents expressed some degree of depressive and anxiety symptoms (68.5% and 54.4%, respectively).  Approximately 9% of respondents exhibited moderately severe to severe depressive symptoms; 5.8% exhibited severe anxiety symptoms. A Review of Academic Stress among Hong Kong Undergraduate Students paper published in the year 2016 brings to light that Hong Kong college students have a higher level of stress than students from different countries (Chan, 2009). It is found that the rate of anxiety among the first-year undergraduate students to be strikingly high because of the new social and intellectual challenges.

Andiappan Yoga Community很高興與香港公開大學（OUHK）合作，為OUHK學生提供免費的瑜伽課程。隨著學生生活需求的增加，定期練習瑜伽可以改善學生的整體健康狀況和平衡能力。這將增強他們應付學生日常壓力的能力。根據研究論文，超過50％的受訪者表達了一定程度的抑鬱和焦慮症狀（分別為68.5％和54.4％）。大約9％的受訪者表現出中度至重度的抑鬱症狀。 5.8％的人表現出嚴重的焦慮症狀。 2016年發表的《香港大學生的學術壓力檢討》揭示了香港大學生的壓力水平高於來自不同國家的學生。結果發現，由於新的社會和智力挑戰，一年級本科生的焦慮率非常高。

Dr. Yogananth Andiappan, the founder Andiappan Yoga Community believes that the introduction of virtual learning and the thought of being on Zoom or video calls for most part of the day without face to face interactions has resulted in an increased amount of anxiety and stress.  As most people are aware, the practice of yoga is very effective in relieving stress and boosting concentration level.  In particular, the practice of Pranayama (mindful breathing) is very effective in mitigating stress and anxiety.  In addition, the practice of yoga and meditation serves to calm the mind as well as improve the physical, mental and overall social wellbeing and balance.  Those who practise this on a regular basis will likely enjoy the benefit of a calm mind, a composed behaviour and a positive to those around them.

Andiappan Yoga Community 創始人Yogananth Andiappan博士認為，虛擬學習的引入以及大半天時間進行Zoom或視頻通話的想法導致了越來越多的焦慮和壓力。大多數人都知道，練習瑜伽對於緩解壓力和提高注意力水平非常有效。尤其是，呼吸法（正念呼吸）在緩解壓力和焦慮方面非常有效。此外，瑜伽和冥想的練習還可以使思想平靜，並改善身體，精神和整體社會福祉和平衡。定期練習的人可能會受益於冷靜的頭腦，舉止得體的行為以及對周圍人的積極幫助。

The AYC mission for 2020 and 2021 is to bring yoga to the youth of Hong Kong and to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.  We are very pleased to work with OUHK in taking steps to introduce yoga to students as a regular activity.  We would like to thank our project leader Ms Tanny Tan for her time and support in bringing the AYC vision and mission to life.

Andiappan Yoga Community (AYC)於2020年和2021年的使命是將瑜伽帶給香港的年輕人，並改善他們的身心健康。我們很高興與香港公開大學合作，邁進一步向學生介紹瑜伽作為他們的定期活動。我們要感謝我們的項目負責人Tanny Tang女士為AYC付諸實踐獻出時間和支持。